Review : Mekhala Soothing Tamarind Facial Cleanser



Product Description
The only cleanser you will ever need! A gentle and effective face wash that removes impurities and even waterproof makeup, whilst soothing the skin and retaining its natural moisture. This unique combination of Tamarind, Honey and Vitamin E nourishes the skin, fights harmful free radicals and reduces the appearance of fine lines. Active botanicals naturally brighten skin for a radiant and luminous complexion.

Benefits:

• 100% natural
• Removes impurities, even waterproof makeup
• Soothes acne inflammation and reduces redness in skin
• Retains and replenishes moisture
• Reduces appearance of fine lines
• Brightens skin
• Ideal substitute for TONER and MAKEUP REMOVER (3-in-1)
• Free of parabens, sulphates, added chemicals, artificial preservatives
and fragrances that can cause irritation and adverse long-term effects
• For NORMAL TO SENSITIVE SKIN

I have been on the lookout for a gentle cleanser since my holy grail cleanser from Dermalogica have changed its formula and no longer suit my skin.
I chanced upon Mekhala during some searches and the cleanser seems like something which may be compatible with my skin and so I sent in my request for a complimentary sample.


I am not adventurous when it comes to cleansers. Bad cleansers made my skin dry, flaky and vulnerable and I hated the havoc it create on my skin which may take days or even weeks to heal.

Mekhala products do not contain artificial flavours, colours, chemicals, fragrances or preservatives Instead, traditional methods, and indigenous spices, herbs, and natural essential oils impart beneficial and luxurious qualities to their products.

This is my first foray into the brand.
The 5ml sachet I received is best for 5 usages and the wonderful scent hits you as you cleanse your skin. It is a mixture of citrus and honey fragrance and smells sweet.

The gel formula with a light yellow colour, is light and gentle but gets too diluted when it mixes with water. I started to use more and creates suds on the skin, to ensure that I am indeed cleansing my skin. I do not use it as a make-up remover, even though it does claim to be able to remove even waterproof make-up which I did not attempt to try because I still prefer double cleansing at the end of the day.

Mekhala Soothing Tamarind Facial Cleanser left my skin feeling wonderfully pampered and soothed. No redness, no tightness, just the way I like it. However, on the first 2 days of usages, 2 zits developed on my chin, one on the first day, another one on the second day which is pretty odd. Do people actually get zits from cleansers that are on the skin for no more than 5 minutes?

Other than that, I really like the cleanser for its short ingredient list as well as being a gentle and effective daily cleanser for my sensitive skin. It retails at $51 for 120ml. Not exactly cheap.
I am still considering if I should get the 120ml size. Anyone can share their favourite gentle cleanser?

Ingredients :
Water, Organic Tamarind, Honey, Vitamin E, Citric Acid, Botanically-Derived Non-Ionic Surfactant

Updated on 28th Aug 15

I purchased the full retail size last month and have been using it as a morning and night cleanser. Unlike 3 years ago, I no longer enjoyed using Mekhala Soothing Tamarind Facial Cleanser. Even though the formula is still the same and the cleanser still feel light and gentle but it is no longer nourishing enough for my aging skin.
I didn't like the after-feel of every cleansing moment. My skin feels parched of nourishment and pampering. No redness but there is the occasional tightness on face.

Source : Mekhala

4 comments

Tiffany said...

hi Agnes,
i suspect the 2nd day zit would be due to the Tamarind? this spice seems odd and unusual for cleanser, rather "too exotic" for face despite the short chain of ingredients, which i agree is good. hmm..also u mentioned it's a blend of citrus and honey and citrus is really bad for sensitive skin!! i attest to that..because there was once i am using Paul and Joe cleanser and damn, my face getting more and more sensitive till i investigate the ingredient and realize they contain amara "orange citrus " somesort, no choice i dump the whole bottle. now i am using hada labo cleanser, i think it's pretty good. or you can try avene? they are pretty excellent for skincare and sensitive type. i have a friend who use dermalogica and develop redness but when switched to avene cleanser, improved so much and the "barrier" is less thin.

Agnes said...

Hi Tiffany,
Yes, I agreed with you. Tamarind sounds exotic, not commonly found in cleansers. :(
Thanks for your heads-up and I realized that citric acid is also part of Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA)where if used in higher concentration they can slough off dead skin cells from the outermost layer of the skin hence, it is an active ingredient in chemical peels.
It is also a good antioxidant that stimulates collagen production and protects against free radicals.

However, side effects of citric acid use on the skin include slight burning, tingling, and temporary redness.
( source : http://www.livestrong.com/article/538904-beauty-benefits-of-citric-acid-powder/ )

I guess it may not be suitable for sensitive skin.

Thanks for the recommendation. I will check out Avene, I have used some of their products before but never tried their cleansers so far.
I have tried the Hada Labo HA Hydrating Wash though but it left a slight taut feeling on the skin.

Tiffany said...

Hey Agnes

sure, got your notes here too :)
have a great day babe!

just the other day, i was touring watson (hehehe favorite drugstore) and i came across Dr Wu gentle cleanser, i haven't tried but i have tried their soothing hydration toner (the blue range) and i think it's pretty good so you might like to check out their cleanser for sensitive range. for makeup, i use the Dr Wu bb cream and no break out so far, and great for brightening up skin. the other one very good is Vichy bb cream , short chain of ingredients and no breakout too. however a friend of mine with oily acne prone skin got a bad breakout using their skincare range so you might want to be cautious. :)

Love
Tiffany

Agnes said...

Hi Tiffany,
ooh, yet another 2 BB creams which I have never try before. I have tried Dr. Wu hydrating serum and moisturiser before but I am not too fond of its sticky after-feel texture.
I like Vichy concealer wand which is what I used to treat and conceal my zits.
Thanks for sharing always.